By Ebun Sessou

Lagos—Taking a cue from the way dare-devil robbers struck in Ikorodu, a Lagos suburb last week, especially with their use of the waterways as their escape route, the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday focused on how to tighten security on waterways in the state.

Top: Entrances of the banks burst by the armed robbers. Below from left: A victim agonises over her loss; the exit route of the robbers and some of the cars destroyed during the Ikorodu robbery incident.

Towards achieving this, the Assembly has mapped out strategies including calling on the state government to explain the whereabouts of the six gunboats purchased by the immediate past administration for Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, in May 2014.

Gunboats are vessels with fitted weapons to tackle waterway crimes.

The Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, however, said it is better to get clarifications from the state government on the whereabouts of the six gunboats purchased by the state government for Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, instead of setting up an ad-hoc committee to probe the whereabouts of the said gunboats.

The House has also called on the Federal Government to direct the Nigerian Navy and other relevant agencies to provide adequate security along the waterways in the state.

Lagos State Waterways Authority was formed following the enactment of the Lagos State Waterways Authority Act 2008, the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) is the organisation responsible for regulating, developing and managing all aspects of the waterways of Lagos State and apart from the road, the Lagos waterways transport over two million people.

Moving a motion on the robbery incident, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, during plenary called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to strengthen the Waterways Guard Corps.

He stated that the corps should be supported to properly carry out their functions as enshrined in the Lagos State Waterways Agency decree in 2008, and that the two helicopters purchased for LASWA should be made functional.

The House, on reverting to the plenary, consequently adjourned till July 15, 2015, following a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade.